From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 29: A team of the Medical Council of India (MCI) will visit the State next week for inspection of facilities available at six new Government Medical Colleges.
Karnataka’s Minister of State for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil, who spoke to reporters in Bangalore on Tuesda, said the State Government has been trying its best to seek approval from the MCI for admission of students to MBBS courses in six medical colleges from the 2014-15 academic year itself.
''Hopefully, If the MCI team satisfied with the facilities provided for students, all six colleges would provide admission for the MBBS course in 2014-15,” Patil said.
The State Government had established six medical colleges in Gulbarga, Gadag, Karwar, Madikeri, Chamarajanagar and Koppal.
The colleges would be temporarily run in rented buildings or government buildings till the completion of college buildings.
''The intake of each college is 150 students. So, we will be having 30 additional seats from the coming academic year if the MCI gives its approval,” the minister said.
As per the MCInorms, 20 acre plot has been identified for each medical college and the Public Works Department has commenced construction works of buildings and other infrastructure.
A sum of Rs 29 crore would be spent on construction of each medical college building, he said.
Nearly 70 per cent of the recruitment process of lecturers and staff has been completed.
Directors have aslo been appointed for all six medical colleges.
The enforcement of model code of conduct by the election commission of India led to delay in the issuing of appointment orders, he explained.
In the 2014-15 state budget, the State Government has proposed to establish medical colleges in Bagalkote, Haveri, Yadgir, Chitradurga, Tumkur and Chikballapur district headquarters.
Twenty acre lands have been identified for each college.
Patil said the proposed five super-speciality hospitals would come up in Gulbarga, Mysore, Belgaum, Hubli and Bellary at a cost of Rs 150 crore each.
Hospitals in Bellary and Hubli would be funded by the Centre.
Patil also indicated that a fresh notification would be announced soon for conducting counselling for post-graduation medical seats following the Supreme Court verdict.
The Apex Court has reduced minimum domicile requirement from 10 years to seven years.